I’ll Follow the Sun

There’s a reason why people prefer bluebird skies. It’s not just that sunny, cloudless days are prettier than overcast ones, or that they give a psychological boost. It’s also easier to ride on a bluebird day.

The principle is simple: the more daylight you have, the easier it is to see the snow, and respond accordingly. The more daylight you have, the softer (and more forgiving) the snow is. As long as you bring adequate sunscreen and shading for your eyes, what’s not to like?

So when you try out a new ski area, stop at the beginning of the day to figure out where the sun will rise and where it will set. If you can, plan your day accordingly. Follow the sun. As sunset approaches in the afternoon, trails that are still illuminated by sunlight will be easier to ride than ones that have gone “dark.”

It’s a simple idea, of course, and an obvious one. But sometimes the simple and obvious ideas are the best ones to follow.